Compare towns

Andover vs Dracut vs Fall River

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Andover has the most people working from home (30.4%).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureAndoverDracutFall River
People
Population
36,652
32,574Lowest
94,082Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.1%
MA: +7.4%
+10.7%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+5.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.9±1Highest
7% above MA
41.7±2
4% above MA
39.3±1.2Lowest
about the MA average
Andover and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.6%±1.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
21.4%±2.4
MA: 19.4%
19.9%±1.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Andover and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16%±1.3Lowest
MA: 17.9%
18.2%±2Highest
MA: 17.9%
16.1%±0.9
MA: 17.9%
Dracut and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
75.6%Highest
MA: 47.3%
36.4%
MA: 47.3%
16.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.1%±0.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
4.1%±0.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$172,606±$16kHighest
66% above MA
$114,036±$10k
10% above MA
$56,673±$3kLowest
45% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$855,600±$22kHighest
52% above MA
$473,900±$17k
16% below MA
$395,500±$11kLowest
30% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,201±$129Highest
25% above MA
$1,839±$130
4% above MA
$1,155±$27Lowest
34% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$5,375
10% below MA
$3,953Lowest
34% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.7%±7.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
57.6%±7.4Highest
MA: 51.8%
52.5%±3.3
MA: 51.8%
Dracut and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.9%Lowest
MA: 10%
7.8%
MA: 10%
19.6%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
79.8%
MA: 62.5%
35.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
9 yrs newer than MA
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
1945Lowest
19 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
about the MA average
30 minHighest
4% above MA
26 minLowest
11% below MA
Work from home
30.4%±2.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
11.4%±2
MA: 18.6%
7.1%±1.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #68 of 282 in MA #201 of 282 in MA #262 of 282 in MA
School district Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical Dracut Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical Dracut Senior High B M C Durfee High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8
12.9Highest
11.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
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MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.